When the economy suffers, people do suffer and unfortunately, so do pets. Many folks would like to help animals, but think they can’t because they don’t have the means or the money yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are various ways to help animals that are free and easy, right in your own community or right from your own computer. Here are some ways.

Procedure:

This is the most direct way in which we can help animals. If we eat fewer animal products, there will be less demand for them, and fewer animals will be bred and slaughtered for human consumption.

Fur, leather and silk all require the deaths of animals for their production. By decreasing the demand for these products, we will cause fewer animals to be bred and/or killed for them. Even though sheep do not need to be killed in order to obtain their wool, the commercial production of wool sometimes includes cruel practices, and always leads to the killing of individual sheep that are unable to produce enough quality wool or are unable to breed.

Boycott companies that test on animals. When you’re not sure whether a company tests on animals, contact the company and ask them. It’s important to know before you buy, and this tells them that there is a demand for cruelty-free products. Two of the largest cosmetics companies, Revlon and Avon, stopped testing on animals after pressure from animal activists.

Millions of unwanted cats, dogs and rabbits are put to sleep in shelters all over the US every year. By spaying and neutering your own animals, you’ll make sure that you are not contributing to the problem.

When you buy from a store or a breeder, you are supporting animal breeding. With so many shelters full of lovable, adoptable animals, we should provide homes for the animals that are already here instead of breeding more.

Visit the website of an organization such as Best Friends Animal Society or North Shore Animal League to find out about volunteer opportunities. You can also periodically check the websites of the major animal organizations to find out about the latest campaigns and sign up to receive action alerts.

Lobby your local elected officials concerning animal issues, participate in boycotts and demonstrations and educate people you know. There are different ways to do it. For example, you can boycott pet stores that sell dogs and cats and tell everyone you know to do the same. With the millions that are destroyed each year, there is no need to sell animals. Aside from the fact that the overwhelming majority of dogs sold in pet stores are from puppy mills, factory-like breeding operations that keep their breeding dogs in cramped cages for most of their lives and discard them when they’re done

About the Author: Fred Goodson has a passion for pets and animals. He has 4 dogs and is planning to have another one. He is also a blogger who writes about pets and animals. Currently, he is living in New Jersey.